Global Voices Online

Nick discusses a condemnation from the International Crisis Group of expanding European ties with Uzbekistan and wonders why there are different standards for European relations with Uzbekistan than with countries like Iran.

Aussie Dave at Israellycool ridicules Palestinian officials performing the Muslim pilgrimage rituals here.

neweurasia reports on recent developments related to press freedom in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Jonathan at Head Heeb gives us his two cents on the Palestinian agreement reached in Mecca. “There are, to be sure, some positive signs. The fact that the Fatah and Hamas leadership had the political maturity to perservere despite factional violence, and that they succeeded in reaching an agreement, is evidence by itself that the gunman's veto can be overruled,” he writes.

Levan continues to mine MySpace for Georgian music, coming up with a list of folk an classical musicians.

Onnik Krikorian posts his latest Armenian parliamentary election monitor at its new home, which will not only monitor online coverage of the election, but also occasionally produce its own original reporting and research.

The Armenian Economist applauds the Armenian tax service for making information on the top 1000 tax payers more transparent but says that it needs to be explained better.

A course on human rights is being held in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, in March 15-16, reports Saudi Jeans.
“The course is the first of its kind here, and the seats are limited,” he explains.

Saudi Jeans wonders how can bloggers protect themselves, following Bahraini Mahmood Al Yousif's incident.
“Mahmood's suggestion to arrange a workshop run by professional journalists to teach us how to criticize, but not get legally caught for their efforts is a good start, but I think there is more to do here, although I don't know exactly what to do. More suggestions?” he writes.